stranger! And, of course, I must learn to fight my own battles!”
“Well, it was very evident yesterday that you are quite able to do that, but I don’t want those hoodlums to think you’re entirely on your own. So now for a few days while this ice lasts we might as well make the trip together.”
On the way they talked about the war and about Frannie’s life.
“You’ve been to college?” said the young man, giving her a quick look when she spoke of classes in some advanced studies.
“Yes, a year and a half till Father died, and then we came to this part of the country and I had to hunt a job.”
There was just the breath of a sigh on the girl’s lips, but there was no cloud in her eyes.
“You didn’t mind?” he asked.
“Why, yes, I minded. But it couldn’t be helped, of course, and I was only too glad to be in shape to work. I had to take care of my family, you know. Mother wanted to work and make me stay at college, of course, but she wasn’t well enough. As it was she wore herself all out taking care of Grandmother. That’s why I wanted to get them down here where I would be near them and could see that Mother took it easy.”
“That was pretty plucky of you,” said Valiant pleasantly. “But you must look out now that you don’t work too hard,” he warned. “You can’t afford to get sick, at least not till your mother gets well.”
“Oh no, I won’t work too hard. Why, you ought to see the way Nurse Branner watches over me. She made us all go to bed last night the minute supper was over and the few dishes washed, and she made oatmeal for us. She’s great! I wish we could afford to keep her on for a while. But of course I know we couldn’t, even if we had a lot of money. She’s an important nurse. Other people need her.”
“Yes, I suppose she is,” said Willoughby. “But she’ll be there for a little while, anyway, the doctor said, and that will help. You haven’t much more to do to get settled, have you?”
“Why, no, not so much. We’re going to put the curtains up tonight and a few pictures, and then we’ll feel like living. The rest can be done a little at a time, or not at all if we don’t want to.”
“Ah! I see! That’s where I come in. I was wondering where I could work into the picture.”
And so, in spite of her protests, Val walked into the little brick house, saluted the nurse who appeared in the kitchen door smiling, and said, “Now, bring on your curtains! I’m the man they sent up from the interior decorators to put up draperies and hang pictures.”
“Well, Mr. Willoughby, that’s nice,” said the nurse. “Frannie says the windows are all washed. It certainly will be fine to have your help. You’ve got such nice long arms. But how about sitting down with us and having a little bite of supper first? I made some soup this afternoon, and it’s grand and tasty if I do say so myself. Doesn’t it smell good? Carrots and onions and barley and potatoes, and tender meat from the soup bone. It’s cooked all the afternoon.”
“Well, that’s great!” said the young man. “I’m hungry as a bear. The menu sounds very alluring.”
“Better sit down now,” said Nurse Branner. “Everything is ready to put on the table. You sit here, Mr. Willoughby, and Frannie, you take the head of the table and pour the coffee.”
It was good soup, and Val Willoughby was hungry. So was Frannie. Such a pleasant, friendly, merry time they had eating it, just as if they had known one another for years. And then there was a luscious apple pie and delicious cheese they had brought from the country.
When the nurse went upstairs to take the sick woman her tray and settle her for the night, the two young people jumped up and began to clear the table.
“Oh, but you mustn’t do this,” said Frannie in horror as she saw the young man gathering up the dishes in an orderly manner as if he had been doing it all his life.
“And why not, I’d like to know,” said Val,
“Well, it was very evident yesterday that you are quite able to do that, but I don’t want those hoodlums to think you’re entirely on your own. So now for a few days while this ice lasts we might as well make the trip together.”
On the way they talked about the war and about Frannie’s life.
“You’ve been to college?” said the young man, giving her a quick look when she spoke of classes in some advanced studies.
“Yes, a year and a half till Father died, and then we came to this part of the country and I had to hunt a job.”
There was just the breath of a sigh on the girl’s lips, but there was no cloud in her eyes.
“You didn’t mind?” he asked.
“Why, yes, I minded. But it couldn’t be helped, of course, and I was only too glad to be in shape to work. I had to take care of my family, you know. Mother wanted to work and make me stay at college, of course, but she wasn’t well enough. As it was she wore herself all out taking care of Grandmother. That’s why I wanted to get them down here where I would be near them and could see that Mother took it easy.”
“That was pretty plucky of you,” said Valiant pleasantly. “But you must look out now that you don’t work too hard,” he warned. “You can’t afford to get sick, at least not till your mother gets well.”
“Oh no, I won’t work too hard. Why, you ought to see the way Nurse Branner watches over me. She made us all go to bed last night the minute supper was over and the few dishes washed, and she made oatmeal for us. She’s great! I wish we could afford to keep her on for a while. But of course I know we couldn’t, even if we had a lot of money. She’s an important nurse. Other people need her.”
“Yes, I suppose she is,” said Willoughby. “But she’ll be there for a little while, anyway, the doctor said, and that will help. You haven’t much more to do to get settled, have you?”
“Why, no, not so much. We’re going to put the curtains up tonight and a few pictures, and then we’ll feel like living. The rest can be done a little at a time, or not at all if we don’t want to.”
“Ah! I see! That’s where I come in. I was wondering where I could work into the picture.”
And so, in spite of her protests, Val walked into the little brick house, saluted the nurse who appeared in the kitchen door smiling, and said, “Now, bring on your curtains! I’m the man they sent up from the interior decorators to put up draperies and hang pictures.”
“Well, Mr. Willoughby, that’s nice,” said the nurse. “Frannie says the windows are all washed. It certainly will be fine to have your help. You’ve got such nice long arms. But how about sitting down with us and having a little bite of supper first? I made some soup this afternoon, and it’s grand and tasty if I do say so myself. Doesn’t it smell good? Carrots and onions and barley and potatoes, and tender meat from the soup bone. It’s cooked all the afternoon.”
“Well, that’s great!” said the young man. “I’m hungry as a bear. The menu sounds very alluring.”
“Better sit down now,” said Nurse Branner. “Everything is ready to put on the table. You sit here, Mr. Willoughby, and Frannie, you take the head of the table and pour the coffee.”
It was good soup, and Val Willoughby was hungry. So was Frannie. Such a pleasant, friendly, merry time they had eating it, just as if they had known one another for years. And then there was a luscious apple pie and delicious cheese they had brought from the country.
When the nurse went upstairs to take the sick woman her tray and settle her for the night, the two young people jumped up and began to clear the table.
“Oh, but you mustn’t do this,” said Frannie in horror as she saw the young man gathering up the dishes in an orderly manner as if he had been doing it all his life.
“And why not, I’d like to know,” said Val,
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